The Cavaliers are down a couple big men, Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao.

That leaves Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov starting with little-used Kendrick Perkins and Brendan Haywood as the only healthy natural power forwards or centers in reserve. LeBron James and Shawn Marion can play down, and even James Jones, Mike Miller and Iman Shumpert can in funky lineups.

But Cleveland doesn’t want to be forced into going small too often.

What happens if Thompson or Mozgov gets hurt?

ESPN Cleveland:

Windhorst: "I've been told that if anything were to go bad, Anderson Varejao could be activated."

The Cavaliers have made it to the NBA Finals, just as many expected the moment that LeBron James announced his return, and the deal to acquire Kevin Love via trade had been completed.

But James himself had his doubts.

LeBron was careful not to make the same elaborate championship promises that he did when leaving Cleveland the first time to join the Miami Heat. He was coming into a completely new situation, with a rookie NBA head coach and young players like Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters who, along with Love, had never experienced the postseason.

After the sweep of the Hawks was complete, and James had time to reflect on the accomplishment, he admitted that getting to the Finals in his first season with this club was something he never envisioned.

“To be at this point tonight sitting up here talking to you guys, like I said, it’s very emotional,” James said at the postgame podium. “Could I foresee this? At the beginning of the season, I couldn’t. I couldn’t foresee us being in The Finals at the beginning of the season because I just knew that we just had to get better and I just saw how young we were and how young‑minded we were at that point in time. But I knew I had to lead these guys, and if they just followed my leadership, I knew I could get them to a place where they haven’t been before.”

– Kevin Love was lost for the remainder of the season in the first round of the playoffs.

– J.R. Smith was suspended for the first two games of the second round.

– Kyrie Irving missed two Conference Finals games with a knee injury — both of which were Cavaliers victories.

And there’s probably even more that could be mentioned.

James was right to doubt whether or not his goal could be accomplished with the team he joined in July. But the one that remains standing and will play in the Finals in June should be more than capable of competing with whoever comes out of the Western Conference.

Questions about Love’s fit have fallen by the wayside as the Cavaliers have surged since acquiring Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. But if the Celtics challenge Cleveland, expect the issue to reemerge – maybe even internally.

It’s not enough for the Cavaliers to beat Boston. They have to keep their good feelings going in later rounds, and given the fragility Cleveland showed earlier in the season, that might require a quick series.

If this drags out, that’s just more for the Cavaliers to ponder what’s going wrong – because for this to drag out, something must go wrong. They’re clearly the better team.

2) Which first-time playoff coach learns the nuances most quickly?

David Blatt had a storied overseas career, and Brad Stevens turned Butler into a national power.

But an NBA playoff series – with game-to-game adjustments against the same team four to seven times – is a new experience for both.

Stevens had a head start on the NBA game, coaching the Celtics to the lottery last year. He says he’s watched plenty of playoff basketball and has a sense how to handle it.

Blatt, an NBA rookie, has improved throughout the season – just as you’d expect a rookie to do. Stevens went through it last year, though Blatt’s learning period has been higher-profile (and probably more poorly handled).

My money is on Stevens holding the edge, but…

3) LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love

This isn’t even a question. The Cavaliers have the three best players in this series.

Heck, Tristan Thompson posted more win shares than any Celtic this season.

The Celtics play hard and are well-coached, and it’s a fantastic accomplishment they made the playoffs.

But they just don’t have the talent to win four games unless Cleveland completely collapses. The way the Cavaliers have played lately, I don’t see that happening, and the only real debate was whether Boston would steal a game or not.

Bosh is out for the rest of this season after doctors discovered blood clots on his lungs. He has been undergoing treatment, and the Heat doctors released this statement on Monday.

Chris Bosh will be re-evaluated this month, and if cleared, may begin regular exercise at that time with plans to start strength training next month. He is scheduled to resume full basketball activities in September.

NBA training camps usually open in early October. Based on other athletes who have had this same condition — such as the Cavaliers’ Anderson Varejao — this should not impact Bosh’s game when he does return.

Bosh was having an All-Star season, averaging 21.1 points and seven rebounds a game. The Heat have struggled since he went down.